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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 7, 2020 7:55:32 GMT -5
WARNING: This story contains scenes of a sexual nature that may be unsuitable for younger readers. Reader discretion is advised.
This is the first time travel story I ever completed, before I Never Dreamed, and it was first published in 2007 before I came up with Sol Duga. It’s set in Jacobean Scotland and was inspired by the Outlander novels of Diana Gabaldon. Feedback is appreciated. PS, the guys are a rock group from the states and they’re touring Scotland. BTW this is the song the story is named after Chapter 1 "Finally, we're here. I just wanna get a drink and chill", said Cliff, flopping down on the bed. Kurt chuckled, dropping his bags on the floor. "I know. We didn’t realize how long it would take to get here..Whatever, it's pretty around here", he said, quickly unpacking his bags. "Cool. Maybe it's because the show's not for a few days. I wounder how the crowd in Aberdeen is gonna react? I hope they like us like in Edinburgh and Glasgow", replied Cliff. He found the remote and turned on the television. He idly flipped through the channels, until he came to the local news station. "We are here at the Mackenzie stone, where a group of Druids are going to prepare for their ritual. Mr. Gordon, what is it you are going to do?", asked the reporter. "Since tonight we shall have a red sky tonight and a blue moon, we will conduct a ceremony. We are trying to see if the old legend is true, that anyone who steps through the stone circle will disappear into the Otherworld. It is an old legend, but it cuold very well be true. We are looking for volunteers, if anyone is interested, please come on down", said Mr. Gordon, an elderly man in a gray robe with a long white beard. He looks like a wizard, mused Cliff. "Hey Kurt, you wanna go to the stone? The Druid says that if someone walks through the circle, they'll end up in another dimension. That'll be cool”, he said. "Yeah, it does sound cool. Are you sure though, Cliff? I mean, it's weird that the station would play something like that. Are you sure you're not stoned?", he joked. "No fucker, I'm sober as a judge, unfortunately. I wanna go down there, that is so cool", laughed Cliff. "I don't know about that. I mean, what if it's for real, and we wind up in prehistoric times and shit? Or hell or some crap like that?", shuddered Kurt. "It'll be cool to go to hell. I wanna see if Satan is really bad dude. And I wanna see dinosaurs", said Cliff. "We gotta talk to the others. If nothing happens, we'll at least be on TV, and it'll be good publicity for the show. Let's get dinner and talk to the others", suggested Kurt as they went downstairs.
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Post by Tim on May 7, 2020 11:50:02 GMT -5
This is this TV show called Outlander that I've heard about. Is this the same series that you mention here?
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 7, 2020 11:55:13 GMT -5
This is this TV show called Outlander that I've heard about. Is this the same series that you mention here? Yeah, but I haven’t seen it. I don’t watch shows based on books most of the time since the network often screws things up. I read the books but I’m not going to watch the show in case they screw up the story.
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Post by Tim on May 7, 2020 12:03:19 GMT -5
Yeah, that's usually the case.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 7, 2020 20:36:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, Tim
Chapter 2
Cliff and Kurt met the others downstairs in the lobby. "Let's get something to eat, I wanna ask you guys something", said Cliff.
Axel raised a blond eyebrow as their big Swedish drummer gave them an odd look. "What do you have to ask us?", he asked.
"It's kinda fucked up, but I hope you'll say yes. It might be good for some publicity", replied Cliff, a gleam in his eyes.
They all found a table in the local pub. They ordered a round of beers and food, when Cliff turned to face them.
"Dudes, I saw this totally fucked up thing on TV in the hotel. There's a sacred stone in a circle nearby. This Druid guy said that because the sky is going to be red and the moon blue tonight, if someone walks through the circle, they'll end up in the Otherworld. There's gonna be TV news and everything. I wanna do it", said Cliff.
"Cool. I wanna go to another dimension. Maybe they'll be hot chicks there", joked James.
Axel gave his singer and bassist a look. "Clifford are you nuts? It's just some crazy people who think they've got magical powers, thinking they'll wind up in Valhalla or something. It's just some hippies who took some bad acid and think they're Druids now. That is one of the craziest things I've ever heard from you, and you're sober. Imagine what you'll come up with when you're stoned", chucked Axel.
"Dude, there's TV cameras there and shit. It'll be great publicity. Besides, nothing's gonna happen. We'll get our faces on TV, and maybe some people will come to the show in Aberdeen", said Kurt, appealing to Axel’s practical side.
His green eyes widened, a smile forming on his lips. "Hmm, you got a point there, Kurt. Yeah, we could use the publicity and with the cameras and all, we'll get on TV and maybe some more people will show up. What do you say, James?", asked Axel,
James shrugged. "That sounds good guys. I mean, it's not everyday you wind up in another dimension. At least we'll have something interesting to tell everyone back home. And we can say to Maxwell that we did something brave like that", he chuckled, a gleam in his blue eyes.
"Well, the food's here. I don't want to go to another dimension on an empty stomach", joked Cliff, as they began to eat.
After they finished eating, the group made their way to the stone circle. A large crowd had already gathered, attracted by the ceremony and the chance of appearing on television.
A group of Druids stood outside the circle, dressed in their ceremonial robes. They all wore black robes and crowns made of rowan branches, their beards hanging to their knees.
The sky overhead was an eerie shade of red, like spilled blood. The moon had a blue tinge to it, standing out amongst the reddish sky. This is weird, I hope it's fake and we really don't end up in another dimension, thought Cliff, a chill going down his spine.
The head Druid turned to face the crowd. He was taller than the others, his hair and beard absolutely white, a contrast to his black robes. He gazed upon the crowd, bright blue eyes staring at them.
"Tonight, we shall perform a ceremony to see if the legend is true. For it is said that when the sky is red and moon blue, whoever walks through the circle of stones will end up in the Otherworld. We need volunteers to pass through, we cannot go because our magic will interfere with their magic and destroy us. Who is willing to volunteer?", he asked.
The crowd murmured in apprehension, looking amongst themselves fearfully. No one volunteered, until Axel stepped forward.
"Myself and my bandmates will go", he said confidently, as they came forward.
The Druid smiled at them, gazing at them with his startlingly blue eyes. Axel tried to suppress a shiver, finding the old man's gaze to be unsettling.
"All right. You and your friends stand by me. When I say so, walk into the circle. Do not show fear, the spirits do not like that. Be brave, no matter what", he murmured.
The Druids walked over to the circle. The head Druid stood in front of the largest stone. It was over ten feet tall, made of a dark gray rock, glowing red and blue like the sky above.
Kurt took a deep breath, wondering if this was a good idea after all. I don't like the look of that rock, rocks don't glow and what will Mom think?, he thought, fighting the urge to cross himself.
Cliff smiled reassuringly at him, clapping him on the back. "Just do what the old dude says", he whispered, as Kurt nodded gratefully.
The Druid looked in their direction, the cameras trained on them. "Now it is time. Walk through the circle with your heads held high. May the horned one protect you and keep you safe from harm", he intoned, as the other Druids began chanting.
Axel took a deep breath and smiled confidently at the crowd, as he led them towards the circle. Kurt felt his heart pounding in his chest, fighting the urge to run away. Be strong, you can't flee in front of all these people, he thought, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.
Cliff put his arm around Kurt’s shoulder, gently yet firmly. He looked up and noticed the eerie glow coming from inside the circle. Instead of normal light, the inside of the circle was shrouded in the faintest of mists, a pale golden glow coming from within. Maybe the legend is true, he mused, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
The sensations grew stronger the closer they got to the stones. Axel was also having second thoughts, but before he could run, James grabbed him tightly by the shoulders, urging him forward.
They entered the circle at the same time, the mists enveloping them. Once inside, a surge of electricity came over them, the figures beyond the stones barely visible, just vague shapes.
Just then, tongues of golden flames leapt from the tops of the stones, arching overhead like a canopy. The space inside the circle flashed a brilliant white, and it all went black...
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Post by Tim on May 8, 2020 0:30:23 GMT -5
Yikes!
Some things are better off left alone.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 8, 2020 9:23:28 GMT -5
Now you’ll see what happened. I’m finishing up classes and assignments this weekend so may not update the other stories until Monday since those I type up from notebooks
Chapter 3
Cliff could feel the hard ground on his back, his head pounding. He opened his eyes, wincing at the light. "Fuck, where the hell happened? I must've smoked some bad shit", he mumbled.
The rest of the group eventually came to, groaning in pain. "When I get that Druid guy, I'm going to kick his ass. He said nothing was going to happen, so why do I feel like shit?", muttered Axel.
"Ditto. Our manager ought to sue them if we can't play", said James, clutching his head.
Kurt opened his eyes, looking around. His eyes widened in shock when he saw their surroundings. The plain was totally empty except for the stones. There were no people, no cars, no cameras, and most ominously, no buildings.
"What the fuck is this? Where did everyone go? Did we really end up in another dimension?", he whispered, his heart racing with fear.
"Shit, what if Kurt is right and we're stuck in another dimension? Cliff, you fucker. Now we're really fucked up. Oh shit, what about the show?", asked Axel, the normally unflappably Swedish drummer trying not to panic.
"Hey man, how should I've known the old dude was a real Druid? I mean, people don't just disappear like that. Fuck, I need a drink", said Cliff.
"Guys, stop bitching like a bunch of sissies. The most important thing now is to find shelter and maybe a friendly village. James, can you see anything?", asked Kurt.
"Kurt is right, guys. We can't just stay here, we got to find friendly people. So let's get moving, there's got to be a village around", said James.
"All right. At least we ate something before we ended up here, I'd hate to walk around on an empty stomach", said Axel as they stepped out of the circle.
They walked towards the west, reckoning there might be a town in that direction. After walking for over three hours, they were starting to get discouraged. There had been no sign of human habitation, only more of the plain. The land stretched out before them like an endless sea of grass, waving in the breeze.
Just as they were resting, they heard the distant thunger of horses' hooves. They huddled together, both fearful and relieved, hoping the riders were friendly.
The troop came into view, circling about them on their horses. The men were all clad in matching blue, green and black kilts, white shirts and plaids of the same design wrapped around their bodies.
Their leader dismounted, striding over to the group. He was in his late twenties to early thirties, tall and muscular with shoulder-length dark brown hair and green eyes, the color of the grass on the plain.
"Ho, who are you? Are ye friend or foe? Or a MacDonnel?", he asked, unsheathing his sword.
Axel felt a shiver of apprehension go down his spine, but he suppressed it, standing straight and tall. "We are friends, none of us is a MacDonnel. We come in peace, and we would like directions to the nearest village", he said, looking him straight in the eyes.
The leader chuckled, green eyes dancing with mirth. "You are a brave fellow. What clan ye be belonging to?", he asked.
They exchanged looks. "We are not part of any clan, we each come from a different clan. We are musicians, Which Eternal Lie”, said Cliff.
"Ye are traveling musicians, then? My father already has a troupe of musicians. What other skills do ye have?", he asked.
"Cliff and I can hunt, Axel is good with numbers, and Kurt can write music", replied James.
The leader looked at them thoughtfully. "Very well, I will take you to my father's keep. We need hunters and soldiers, and people to work in the castle. It looks as though ye shall be of use. Tell me, though, why do ye wear such strange garb? I have never seen anyone dressed in this manner", he said, pointing to Cliff's Misfits shirt.
"That is how people in our area dress", replied Cliff.
"Very well. When we get back to the keep, ye shall wear the garb of our clan", said the leader. "Follow us, it is only several leagues to our keep", he said, getting back on his horse.
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Post by Tim on May 8, 2020 11:18:07 GMT -5
Looks like they've gone into the past.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 9, 2020 7:10:56 GMT -5
Chapter 4
The group had walked for an hour when the village came into view. The houses were clustered around a much larger building, which they assumed was the castle.
The people were up and about, doing their duties when they arrived. Most of the people were too busy to acknowledge them, but the children and some of the young women gazed at them curiously.
"You are now on Mackenzie lands. My father's keep is the building up ahead. You will bathe and refresh yourselves, then you will have an audience with my father", said the leader.
"Your father's the chief?", asked Axel.
"Yes, he is Kenneth Mackenzie, the laird of Clan Mackenzie. We own lands from there to Caithness. Us and the MacDonnel's are the most powerful clans here", he replied proudly.
Jeanie McKenna was weeding the garden when her younger brother Liam came running over to her. "Jeanie, the laird's son has come back, and he has some queer-looking people with him", he said excitedly.
She wiped her hands on her apron, smiling at him. "Och Liam, calm down. Maybe they are prisoners", she said, a hint of fear in her voice.
"No, they were not wearing shackles. And they were chatting with him. I think they are minstrels or jugglars. What fun", he said, blue eyes dancing with excitement.
"That would be good. 'Tis good to have a wee bit of fun", she chuckled, as her brother led her towards the main street of the village.
Several other villagers stood by the side of the street, watching the curious procession. Jeanie looked at them, intrigued. Four young men in black shirts and blue trousers walked alongside the laird's son. Two of them were of average height, one with brown hair and fair skin, the other one with curly black hair and olive skin. Next to them was a tall, thin man with long red hair, his shirt bearing a skull with the word Misfits above it, his trousers flared out at the bottoms.
However, the last young man really caught her eye. He was taller than the others and muscular, long blond hair falling in thick waves past his shoulders. His shirt had no sleeves, exposing his strong muscled arms, his trousers tight, but worn.
"Ooh, he is a handsome one", she giggled, a flush forming on her cheeks.
"Aye, they are a queer-looking bunch, but if the laird's son trusts them, they must be friends", said her cousin Morag.
"Aye, I suppose so", said Jeanie, her eyes still on the blond man.
"Cousin, ye fancy him? I like his companion, the one with the red hair. He is very fit", giggled Morag.
"Aye, ye have always had an eye for the laddies, Morag. Now we must get back to work, before Mam says we're getting lazy", said Jeanie.
The group was conscious of the stares they were getting as they walked through the village. Oh well, it's mostly little kids and chicks. I'd be more scared if it were dudes. Besides, some of these chicks are hot, thought James.
At the side of the road, he noticed a young woman with a young boy next to her. She looked to be in her early twenties, wearing a simple blue dress, her feet bare. Her chestnut hair was pulled back from her face, her sky-blue eyes looking in their direction. He winked at her, causing her to blush. Hmm, she's hot. Maybe we'll hook up, he chuckled.
James glanced over and saw her companion staring boldly at Cliff. She had bright red hair the color of a new penny, a curvy figure accentuated by the purple dress she wore. Her large green eyes stared directly at him, as Cliff stared back, his eyes on her tits. Lucky bastard, looks like he's gonna get lucky, she and the other one both got nice tits. Looks like we're both getting lucky. This isn't looking so bad after all, he chuckled to himself.
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Post by Tim on May 9, 2020 11:21:21 GMT -5
There was a girl named Morag in my high school. She got a lot or ribbing because of that name.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 9, 2020 11:29:29 GMT -5
There was a girl named Morag in my high school. She got a lot or ribbing because of that name. Really, was she Scottish? I just chose Scottish names from a baby name website and chose the ones that fit best and had a good meaning, that’s how I name many of my characters.
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Post by Tim on May 9, 2020 11:38:27 GMT -5
She was of Scottish descent, although she herself was born in Canada. We had a sketch comedy series here in Canada, called Smith & Smith. It starred husband and wife team of Steve and Morag Smith. I remember an episode where she commented how unusual her name was.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 9, 2020 12:10:52 GMT -5
Oh, okay. I’d never heard of the show and I just liked the name, it sounded right. I know there’s a lot of Scottish people in Canada, many of them were from the Highlands. In the USA people of Scottish descent often don’t realize it since many came over in the 1600s and settled in rural areas. The Irish are more open about their heritage since many settled in cities and didn’t blend in as much as the Scottish
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Post by Tim on May 9, 2020 17:30:44 GMT -5
There was a character named Morag on the Ewoks cartoon, that was on in the late 80''s. She was an evil witch. From Wikipedia:
And, unusual for a cartoon at that time, she was killed off.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on May 9, 2020 18:25:21 GMT -5
Chapter 5
"This is my father's keep. You will bathe and dress properly, then you will have an audience with my father", he said.
Several servants came before them, bowing deeply. "Follow us", they said, leading them upstairs. The castle was like something out of a movie, dark and foreboding, the few windows barely letting in any light. The air inside was cool and damp, as though they were in a cave.
"Here are the bathing rooms. After you bathe, you will wear our own garb. Then you shall have an audience with the laird", said the head steward.
The group nodded warily. In the center of the room was an enormous tub, the size of a swimming pool. Steam rose from it's surface, a table nearby holding soap and towels.
"Okay, who goes first?", asked Axel .
"Oh, everyone goes in at once. It is how we do it here", explained the steward.
They all turned bright red at the idea. "Oh shit. Well, when in Rome...", muttered Kurt as they quickly got undresed and got in the tub.
"Damn, this feels good", sighed James, sinking into the hot water.
"Yeah, this feels like a hot tub", chuckled Kurt.
Several servant girls entered the room. Without a word, they proceeded to wash the men. The girls did their job quietly and professionally, not making a sound.
"This is great. We got chicks washing us, it's good to be the king", joked Axel.
The girls finished their work and handed them rough woolen towels. "Hey sweetheart, wanna rub me down some more?", cracked James. The girl ignored him, as did the others.
"Hmm, maybe they're so used to doing this it's just a job for them. Oh well, we're clean", said Kurt, examining the clothes.
On a table were their new clothes. They each got a kilt in the Mackenzie tartan, a white wool shirt and a belted plaid. They got dressed, which took a while because they weren't used to the clothes.
Several minutes later, the door opened and the steward walked in. He too wore a kilt with the same design, but his shirt was black and his plaid was silk instead of wool. His bonnet had the same design, a tall white feather perched on top.
"Gentlemen, the laird is ready to see you now", he said, as they followed him.
The group followed him back downstairs. He stopped before an enormous carved wooden door guarded by two large men in Mackenzie tartan.
"The laird is ready to receive ye", said the steward, as the guards stepped aside.
The room was enormous, the size of their house back home. It was decorated with tapestries hanging on the walls, the ceiling painted to resemble the blue sky. On the farthest end of the room, the laird sat on his chair, raised on a dais.
The laird was a middle-aged, yet dignified man. He was tall and muscular still, his graying dark hair giving him a distinguished look. His dark eyes gazed impassively at them, his expression blank. He wore the Mackenzie tartan, the plaid on his shoulder adorned with a golden badge showing a horned stag.
"Your Lordship, may I present to you Which Eternal Lie. They were found lost on the plain. They are a musical group, but they have other skills, and they will be useful to you", said his son.
The laird got up from his chair, standing to his full height. "Are ye friend or foe? If ye are MacDonells, ye will be put to the sword. We do not tolerate spies", he said in his deep voice.
"We are not MacDonells. I am Axel Karlsson and this is James Hamilton , Kurt Holmes and Cliff Butler. We are in a musical group called Which Eternal Lie and we shall try to be of service, your lordship", said Axel .
"Hmm, ye are not from these parts. Are ye Sassenachs?", he asked.
"No, we are from across the ocean, from the colonies", said Cliff, thinking fast.
The laird raised an eyebrow. "Ye are from the colonies? Interesting. At least ye are not Sassenachs nor MacDonells. Very well then. Conor, thank you for bringing them to the castle. Since it is late, ye will eat and then tomorrow I shal assign ye tasks. Take them to their rooms", said the laird, as the steward led them out the room.
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